GWP-C Provides Funding to Support Partners’ Implementation of IWRM Projects in the Caribbean

Six (6) Partners of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) have secured grant funding from the organisation to implement a small-scale Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) project in their respective countries. These Partners include:

1. Montserrat Utilities Limited (MUL) for their project on “Groundwater Management in Montserrat.”
2. The Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus for their project on “Hydrogeological Mapping in Barbados.”
3. The National Hydrological Service of Belize for their project on “Hydrogeological Mapping in Belize.”
4. The University of Guyana (UG) for their project on “IWRM Capacity Building in Guyana.”
5. Dominica Water and Sewerage Company Limited (DOWASCO) for their project on “IWRM Capacity Building in Dominica.”
6. Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL) for their project on "IWRM Capacity Building in Barbados."

The awarded grants, come as a result of the successful selection of concepts notes submitted by the six (6) organisations based on a “Call for Small-Scale IWRM Projects” by GWP-C. The Call which specifically targeted GWP-C Partners based in the Caribbean, focused on projects in the following areas:

• Hydrogeological Mapping
• Capacity Building (related to IWRM)
• Feasibility Assessments to include Gender into National Policy
• Other IWRM related areas

Download the IWRM Projects Summary Brief

Learn more about each of the six (6) IWRM projects which will be implemented and completed this year by downloading the Project Summary Brief here. The Brief gives an overview of each project, its main objectives, key outputs and the project duration.

UPDATE - May 2022

GWP-C Supports the Successful Completion of 3 Regional IWRM Projects

In January 2022, GWP-C reported on its provision of grant funding to six (6) partners throughout the region. These grants were in support of the implementation of small-scale IWRM projects in their respective countries. To date, three (3) of these projects have been successfully completed.

Montserrat Utilities Limited (MUL) - “Groundwater Management in Montserrat”

The project entitled “Installation of Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)” was initiated to treat with the unstable supply of electricity and the need for alternative power supplies to meet energy demands. It aimed to enhance energy performance at three (3) pumping stations that supply potable water to the island of Montserrat. This project was completed in April 2022.

The successful results of this project are as follows:

• A smooth transition of the implementation of the three (3) ATS's at the different pump stations was completed.
• Implementing the ATS's are effective as it maintains a constant water supply to the communities. It also ensures that there is a smooth transfer of power from the electricity grid to the standby generator in order to ensure the pumps keep pumping the required amount of water to reservoirs.
• The completion and the implementation of the ATS's has significantly reduced labor hours since the pump operators are no longer required to visit the pump station to switch over the electricity supply to the manual ATS.
• It also aids in reducing the amount of overhead costs the company incurs such as diesel, and vehicle (used to transport the pump operators to and from the various reservoirs) maintenance costs.

Three (3) Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS) installed at the Pump Stations

The Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus - “Hydrogeological Mapping in Barbados”

The overall aim of this project entitled “Hydrogeological Mapping for Barbados” was to “develop a preliminary hydrogeological map for Barbados that significantly improves [the] understanding of occurrence, distribution, and driving factors of groundwater flow on the island.” This project supported the collection and digitization of data relating to the areal and vertical extent of the island's aquifers and groundwater flow patterns. The project was completed in May 2022.

This project has successfully achieved the following results:

• Data have been collected including: topographic data, soil data, limestone basement geology data, and hydrometeorological data.
• The raw data have been digitized and analyzed in ArcGIS. The ArcGIS data have been post-processed and entered into the hydrogeological modelling software using the tools purchased under the project (MATLAB & FEFLOW).
• Preliminary simulations of 3D flow are representative of the regional groundwater flow dynamics on the island.
• Sensitization training was done with 12 Environmental Protection Department officers to highlight the importance of hydrogeological mapping and modelling tools for Integrated Water Resources Management for Barbados as it is both water scarce and the aquifers are vulnerable to climate change and contamination.
• GWP-C Intern and Youth IWRM Focal Point for Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Jheuel Carter-Guy visited CERMES and was trained on using the software purchased.

The following are images from the project. L-R: Snapshot Random Walkflow Sinkholes; Soil Sinks; Streams.

3D Snapshot

Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL) - "IWRM Capacity Building in Barbados"

This capacity building project entitled “Improving the awareness, knowledge and skills of non-profit institutions and individuals to sustain wise use of water resources", aimed to raise awareness and build capacity surrounding the links and interdependencies between IWRM and the SDGs in Barbados. The project aimed to help at least 30 young and mature male and female Non-profit leaders and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) entrepreneurs and their teams to gain a better understanding of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Barbados. The project comprised six (6) planned activities which were completed in May 2022.

The successful results are detailed below.

• COESL randomly conducted a baseline survey among 40 NGOs and MSME leaders and their team members. The survey aimed to gauge the level of water knowledge among the specified target group. The survey also sought to capture participants' knowledge on other relevant cross cutting IWRM areas including SDGs, as well as GWP-Caribbean and the work they do. The survey was designed and conducted during the months of January and February 2022. The goal of the survey was to help the facilitators of the capacity building sessions to better design their knowledge transfer materials to fit and benefit the needs of the project participants. The survey results were used as a guide by facilitators to design capacity building sessions "fit for purpose".
• The project drew on the strong network of partners in the region but also outside of the region, in the diaspora. With a strong focus on the SDGs, the project was able to attract a young female Trinidadian SDG specialist living in the diaspora to facilitate the SDG workshop. With the IWRM capacity building workshop, COESL was able to attract a Barbadian specialist living in the USA to facilitate this session. The other two sessions were facilitated by Barbadian experts living in Barbados. This helped to forge closer partnerships with CERMES and with the Roofs-to-Reefs Programme. The workshops were very well attended and the feedback was very positive with very strong engagement.
• The Career Resource which is a driver for educating citizens, including in-school and university youth, as well as career counsellors, received very objective and valuable review from partners. The feedback is that this is very timely and should be shared widely as a tool to educate and sensitize persons about jobs in the water sector.
• Various partners have reviewed the training manual and have described it as very useful, valuable and a resource that they can use in their communities and organizations. It has also been described as timely.
• The Good Practices booklet features 11 water conservation models which can be replicated throughout the country but also taught to young males and females, in-school and out of school for water sustenance and good water governance.

The GWP-C will continue to monitor and report on the successes of the remaining three (3) projects as the year progresses. For each project, a final case study will be developed and made available via the GWP Toolbox website. These case studies will also be shared with the wider network members and partners.